Using the same glass surface as the trackpad on Apple's current laptop line, the Magic Trackpad supports the same Multi-Touch gestures, bringing Apple's Multi-Touch technology to any Mac running Mac OS X 10.6.4 or later. The Magic Trackpad doesn't work with the iPad, or Windows PCs (though it does work in a limited way on a Mac running Windows through Boot Camp.

Designed to complement Apple's Wireless Keyboard, the Magic Trackpad uses the same aluminum-body design--and is almost the exact same height, depth, and inclination--as the Wireless Keyboard. (The trackpad is ever-so-slightly deeper from front to back.) As with the Wireless Keyboard, the back edge is raised about half an inch to accommodate a cylindrical battery compartment that holds two AA batteries. You'll also find the same power button (on the left-hand side) and screw-shut battery-compartment cover (on the right-hand side). Rubber feet on the bottom of the trackpad keep it from sliding around your desk.

The Magic Trackpad also fits well with non-wireless Apple Keyboards: The thicknesses and inclinations are nearly identical, so when you align the front edge of the trackpad with either of Apple's wired keyboards, the top surfaces align almost perfectly (although the trackpad's battery compartment extends beyond the rear edge of the wired keyboard).

Apple claims the Magic Trackpad is nearly 80 percent larger than the largest MacBook Pro trackpad--the largest trackpad the company has ever made--but doesn't provide actual dimensions. The actual trackpad surface is roughly 5.2 inches wide by 4.3 inches deep; the entire device, including the battery compartment, is 5.2 inches deep.

My favourite Magic Trackpad design feature? While the Magic Trackpad may not appear to support physical "clicking," it indeed does: The two nubby, rubber feet on the bottom, along the front edge, actually have buttons built into them. When you press down on the trackpad surface, the feet "click," giving you the same tactile sensation as you get with Apple's current MacBook trackpads. Very clever, and a welcome Apple touch - no pun intended - for those who hate touch-tapping.